Check-point vehicle tire puncturing and deflating assembly

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to devices that are used by law enforcement agencies and others for intentionally puncturing the rubber tires of a motor vehicle. More particularly, this invention relates to an assembly that can be placed in front of or in back of one or more tires of a stationary vehicle for the purpose of deploying one or more spikes from the assembly in the event the vehicle is moved. It also relates to a vehicle tire puncturing and deflating spike assembly that is compact, that protects the spikes and the person carrying them during storage and otherwise, and that is quickly and easily used in the field.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/662,529, filed Mar. 3, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to devices that are used by law enforcement agencies and others for intentionally puncturing the rubber tires of a motor vehicle. More particularly, this invention relates to an assembly that can be placed in front of or in back of one or more tires of a stationary vehicle for the purpose of deploying one or more spikes from the assembly in the event the vehicle is moved. It also relates to a vehicle tire puncturing and deflating spike assembly that is compact, that protects the spikes and the person carrying them during storage and otherwise, and that is quickly and easily used in the field.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that it is occasionally necessary for law enforcement agencies to impede and stop the movement of a speeding motor vehicle. One method of accomplishing this is by the strategic placement of one or more tire-deflating mechanisms in the path, or the anticipated path, of the moving vehicle to impede and stop its movement. Such portable tire-deflating mechanisms often take the form of strips of material that can be set down on a roadway, the strips including some sort of puncturing device attached to it. One such mechanism, invented by this inventor, is formed with a “scissors-like” base having a plurality of tire-puncturing spikes, each of which is removably held within the base. That mechanism, including the detail of the tire-deflating spikes that are used with it, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,961 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,189 issued to this inventor, respectively.

In the experience of this inventor, there is another scenario where a tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly can be effectively used as a deterrent against movement of a motor vehicle. That is where a motor vehicle must remain at rest for a sufficient time for authorities to check the motor vehicle, or its passengers or cargo, for one reason or another. In such a scenario, it would be desirable for the user to have an ability to temporarily place an array of spikes between the front wheel and the rear wheel at one side or the other of a motor vehicle such that movement of the vehicle in either a forward or rearward direction would result in a deployment of one or more spikes into the tire of the motor vehicle. It would also be desirable to make the placement of the array between the tires, as well as removal of the array from between the tires, a rather simple and effective process, a preferably one which can be accomplished in a single step. Such an application may be where a check-point attendant is performing some sort of security check of the vehicle or of its driver, although there are many other applications for such an assembly and the list provided here is not intended to be all inclusive or limiting in any way.

Although the tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly described in the patents referred to above could, at least in theory, be used for such check-point applications, such use would be cumbersome and inconvenient at best. Deployment of the assembly as described in the patents is really intended for situations where a motor vehicle is approaching, but has yet to arrive. Where a motor vehicle is already in place and clearance between the lowermost portion of the motor vehicle and the roadway surface is relatively small, prior assemblies would require the user to position himself or herself as close to the ground as possible so as to insure proper positioning of the assembly and without causing damage to the lower body portions of the motor vehicle by inadvertent contact with the spikes of the assembly. The same concern would exist when removing the assembly from underneath the motor vehicle. Accordingly, repeated placement and removal of such an assembly would be very impractical and time-consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a new, useful, and uncomplicated stationary tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly that can be placed from one side of a stationary vehicle and at a point that is behind the front tire and in front of the rear tire of that vehicle to prevent movement of that vehicle. It is another object of this invention to make the assembly a portable one when such is desired or required. It is still another object of this invention to provide such a tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly that can be mountable into a first position where the spike array extends from the first position to a second position, the second position being as described by the principal object of this invention. It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly that requires only a minimal number of elements of construction, that is easy to use and that allows for ease in placement and in removal when compared to assemblies of current availability used in similar application.

The present invention has obtained these objects. It provides for a longitudinally-extending slide base and a spike holder that is longitudinally-movable along the slide base to thereby extend the spike holder and spikes beneath a stationary vehicle. The slide base includes a foot or anchor plate from which one or more slide base plates extend. The anchor plate can be placed in a fixed position. Alternatively, the assembly may be used as a portable one where the user stands on the foot plate to immobilize it.

The spike holder includes a longitudinally-extending aperture defined in it for receiving a portion of the slide base plate, thereby allowing the spike holder to be slidable along the slide base plate. The spike holder includes a “kick” plate that can be used to urge the spike holder under the vehicle by foot. As the spike holder glides into position, a stop member is provided to prevent disengagement of the spike holder from the slide base plates. The kick plate also includes means for quickly retracting the spike holder from beneath the vehicle when its intended usage is completed and such is desired.

The foregoing and other features of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly constructed in accordance with this invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front, top and left side perspective view of a check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the assembly and its elements in an exploded view.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention and showing the spike holder in its “retracted” position.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention and showing the spike holder in its “retracted” position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the assembly shown in the same position as in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged and sectioned left side elevational view of the foot or anchor plate portion of the tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged and sectioned front elevational view of the assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a top plan view of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention and showing the spike holder in its “retracted” position.

FIG. 7B is a top plan view of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention and showing the spike holder in its “extended” position.

FIG. 8 is a left side elevational view of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention and showing the spike holder in its “extended” position.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectioned view illustrating the stop element of the assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbered elements refer to like elements as well, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the check-point tire-puncturing and deflating spike retaining assembly, generally identified 10, that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the assembly 10 includes a longitudinally-extending slide base, generally identified 20, and a spike holder, generally identified 30, that is longitudinally-movable along the slide base 20 to thereby extend the spike holder 30 and spikes 12 beneath a stationary vehicle (not shown). In detail, the slide base 20 includes a foot or anchor plate 22 from which one or more longitudinally-extending slide base plates 24 extend. In the preferred embodiment, two base plates 24 are provided. However, such is not a limitation of the present invention. A single base plate 24 could be used as could more than two. As shown, the base plates 24 are longitudinally parallel to one another and each includes a proximal end 25 and a distal end 27, each proximal end 25 being fastened to the foot or anchor plate 22 by means of a plurality of fasteners 21. As previously alluded to, the anchor plate 22 can be placed in a fixed position as shown. Alternatively, the assembly 10 may be used as a portable one where the user stands on the foot plate 22 to immobilize it. When used in a fixed fashion, however, the distal end 27 of each base plate 24 may be secured to a surface by using additional fasteners (not shown) there. See FIG. 2 also.

As shown in FIG. 6, it will be seen that each base plate 24 is configured in a dovetail fashion to allow for slidable movement of the spike holder 30 along the base plates 24, but allowing for no transverse movement between those elements. In the preferred embodiment, the base plates 24 and the spike holder 30 are made of a self-lubricating nylon material or other like material. Such is not, however, a limitation of the present invention. The advantage of using like materials for both the base plates 24 and the spike holder 30 is that the rate of expansion of each element relative to the other will be the same, regardless of environmental factors such as extremely hot or extremely cold conditions exist and where different materials could create “pinching” of the elements and render the assembly 10 marginally operational or even completely inoperable.

In greater detail, FIG. 1 illustrates that the longitudinally-extending spike holder 30 includes a top surface 32 having opposing ramp portions 31, 33 that extend downwardly from the top surface 32. The ramp portions 31, 33 are provided so as to allow a motor vehicle tire (not shown) to more easily run atop the spike holder 30 without tending to push it away from the tire. The longitudinally-extending spike holder 30 also includes a bottom surface 34, the bottom surface having a pair of longitudinally-extending apertures 46 defined in it for receiving a portion of the slide base plate 24 within each aperture 46, thereby allowing the spike holder 30 to be slidable along the slide base plate 24. See FIGS. 2 through 4, and also FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8. An additional slot 48 is defined within each aperture 46, the purpose of which will be further apparent in this detailed description.

The spike holder 30 of the assembly 10 includes a proximal end 36 and a distal end 37. The proximal end 36 of the spike holder 30 includes a transversely-disposed and slightly upwardly-extending “kick” plate 38 with which the user can slidably urge the spike holder 30 under a vehicle (not shown) by his or her foot. As the spike holder 30 glides into position, a stop member 28 is provided and which is attached to the distal end 27 of each slide base plate 24 by means of fasteners 29 to prevent disengagement of the spike holder 30 from the slide base plates 24. See FIG. 9. That is, the additional slot 48 runs along the aperture 46 of each slide base plate 24, but stops short of the entire length of the plate 24. In this fashion, the uppermost portion of the stop member 28 engages the slot 48 and prevents the spike holder 30 from disengaging the base plates 24.

As shown in FIG. 5, the kick plate 38 also includes an eye-hook 39 or similar connector for attaching one end of a string or rope (not shown) to it. The user may pull on the string (not shown) and quickly retract the spike holder 30 from beneath the vehicle (also not shown) when its intended usage is completed.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 through 3 and FIG. 6, it will be seen that the top surface 32 of the spike holder 30 includes a plurality of circular spike apertures 42. Each spike aperture 42 includes a spike retaining device 14 of the type known in the art. It is to be understood that the precise kind or type of spike retaining device 14 used is not a limitation of the present invention. To one side of each spike aperture 42 is a transverse slot 44. The slot 44 is provided to allow the spike 12 to lay down and for slight rotation of the spike 12 as the spike 12 is deployed from the assembly 10.

In application, the assembly 10 would be mounted in a fixed position relative to a secure check-point. Alternatively, it could be portable as desired or required by the particular application. If the assembly 10 is used in a fixed position setting, the anchor plate 22 of the base 20 would be secured to a flat horizontal surface as would each of the slide base plates 24. The assembly 10 would be secured in such a way that the movement of the spike holder 30 relative to the base plates 24 would be generally transverse to the path of movement of the motor vehicles with which the assembly 10 would be used. As a motor vehicle approaches the assembly at this point, the spike holder 30 would be in a fully retracted position as is shown in FIGS. 2 through 4. As the motor vehicle (not shown) moves towards the assembly 10, and into the anticipated path of the assembly 10 when fully extended, the motor vehicle should be stopped at a point where extension of the assembly 10 effects placement of the spike holder 30 preferably between the front vehicle tire and the rear tire. The user then uses the kick-plate of the spike holder 30 to urge the spike holder 30 along the base plates 24 and under the motor vehicle. At this point, the spike holder 30 is in its fully extended position as shown in FIGS. 7B and 8. With the spike holder 30 in this position, it is not possible to move the motor vehicle without deploying one or more of the spikes 12 as the tire, front or rear, moves up and over one or the other of the ramped surfaces 31, 33 and the upper surface 32 of the spike holder 30. When the purpose of the check-point has been completed, the user simply pulls on a rope or string (not shown) that is attached to the eyehook 39 of the spike holder 30 to retract the spike holder 30 to its initial position, thus allowing the motor vehicle to continue on its way without harm to its tires.

Accordingly, it will be seen that there has been provided a new, useful and non-obvious tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly that is preferably placed between the front and rear wheels of a vehicle, that can, for example, be moved underneath a vehicle when the vehicle is stationary so as to prevent the vehicle from moving without puncturing one more tires, and that can be just as easily removed from underneath a vehicle. 

1. A tire puncturing spike retainer assembly comprising: a longitudinally extending slide base; a plurality of spikes; and a spike holder, the spike holder being operable to hold said plurality of spikes and being permitted to slide longitudinally along the slide base.
 2. The tire puncturing spike retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the slide base further includes an anchor plate, the anchor plate being provided such that it is possible to anchor the slide base to a surface beneath the slide base.
 3. The tire puncturing spike retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the spike holder further comprises a push plate at one end of the spike holder for pushing the spike holder longitudinally along the slide base.
 4. The tire puncturing spike retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the spike holder further comprises a means for pulling the spike holder longitudinally along the slide base.
 5. The tire puncturing spike retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the longitudinally extending slide base is the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, the shorter parallel end of the isosceles trapezoid being the bottom of the longitudinally extending slide base and the longer parallel end being the top of the slide base and wherein the spike holder has a bottom surface comprising a longitudinally extending trapezoidal aperture defined within it, the trapezoidal aperture being designed to accept the trapezoidal slide base such that the spike holder is permitted to slide longitudinally along the spike base.
 6. The tire puncturing spike retainer of claim 5 wherein a plurality of slide bases are used and the spike holder has a corresponding number of apertures configured to accept each slide base.
 7. The tire puncturing spike retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the longitudinally extending slide base is the shape of a “T”, and wherein the spike holder has a bottom surface comprising a T-shaped aperture defined within it, the T-shaped aperture being configured to accept the T-shaped slide base such the spike holder is permitted to slide longitudinally along the spike base.
 8. The tire puncturing and spike retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the spike holder further comprises a top surface having two opposing ramp portions that extend downwardly from the top surface.
 9. A tire puncturing spike retainer assembly comprising: a longitudinally extending slide base in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, the shorter parallel end of the isosceles trapezoid being the bottom of the longitudinally extending slide base and the longer parallel end being the top of the slide base; a plurality of spikes; and a spike holder, the spike holder having an upper portion being operable to hold the plurality of spikes and a lower portion having a longitudinally extending trapezoidal aperture defined within it, the trapezoidal aperture being configured to accept the trapezoidal slide base such that the spike holder is permitted to slide longitudinally along the spike base.
 10. The tire puncturing spike retainer assembly of claim 9 wherein the spike holder further comprises a means for pushing the spike holder along the slide base and a means for pulling the spike holder along the slide base. 